Cost of living increases by 0.4% in August

THE sharp fall in prices may have come to an end as the cost of living has increased for the first time since September last year.

The latest consumer price index (CPI) figures from the Central Statistics Office found that prices were up 0.4% in August, but down 5.9% in the year overall.

The main drivers of the monthly rise were increases in the cost of clothing and footwear, mortgage costs, petrol and diesel and airlines prices. There were falls in private rents and most food items.